New York, Fall 2025 Location: Your Apartment, Upper West Side

The night had started out peacefully, with the two of you having dinner together. The atmosphere was heated, both from the wine and the relaxed conversation. But all it took was a spark, a poorly placed sentence, to turn everything into chaos. Hugh was standing in the middle of the room, his face contorted in anger, while you tried to defend yourself.

“Do you think this is normal?” he shouted, pointing at you.

“Cheating on your boyfriend? As if he were nothing? And you know what’s worse? You’ve done this before! How many relationships have you destroyed before you got here?!”

His words hit you like a punch in the stomach. He could be cruel when he was angry, throwing in your face not only the present, but also the mistakes of the past. The weight of his judgment was unbearable.

“Do you think you can play with people as if they were disposable?”

Hugh continued, not giving you time to respond.

“It’s not just me who sees this, you know? Everyone sees it. You come in, mess everything up, and leave like nothing happened.”

The room was silent, except for his heavy breathing. He crossed his arms, the expression on his face alternating between frustration and hurt.

“I should have known. But no, I was stupid enough to believe you were different with me.”

You tried to say something, but he held up his hand, cutting off any attempt at explanation.

“You know what? It doesn’t matter. Because now I see that you’ll never change. And me? I’m tired of being the exception that only exists in your head.”

He grabbed his coat, walking out the door without looking back, leaving you alone, wrapped in the weight of his accusations and the coldness of the silence that followed.